THE HAGUE, March 12 (Xinhua) -- People-to-people exchanges between the Netherlands and China are entering a new phase and facing fresh opportunities as China continues to develop and the global landscape evolves, Monique Knapen, chair of the Netherlands China Friendship Association (VNC), said in a recent interview.
Knapen noted China's recent unilateral visa-free policy for Dutch citizens has encouraged more people from the Netherlands to travel to China for tourism, exchanges and business visits. At the same time, Chinese culture has become increasingly familiar to many in Dutch society. Celebrations of the Chinese New Year are widely recognized, while learning Chinese and enjoying Chinese cuisine have long been embraced by many Dutch people.
More open and rational dialogue, she said, can help both societies better understand each other and create new opportunities for cooperation.
"People in the Netherlands, people in China need to find a way to meet each other. And that's what we try to do in several sectors, in culture, in business and in education," she said.
Founded in 1977, VNC is one of the oldest and most active organizations in the Netherlands focused on promoting ties with China. It is independent and committed to cultural, business and educational endeavors in order to create better dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Its members include both people of Chinese heritage and Dutch nationals, ranging from students to scholars and professionals interested in China.
Knapen said the association organizes lectures, forums and cultural events each year and cooperates with Dutch institutions to reach new audiences.
"This year we also go to China with a group to talk about, to see how China health care system is working. Learning from traditional Chinese medicine, but also looking at AI development, robotics," Knapen said. Such visits can help people who are less familiar with China gain a more direct understanding of the country's development, she added.
The association will mark its 50th anniversary next year. Looking ahead, Knapen said the association hopes to create more platforms for dialogue and engage with influential figures in Dutch society to promote bilateral exchanges.
"One of our key missions is to present a more comprehensive and objective picture of China," she said. "We try to do that through facts and real experiences."
"Ultimately, what we do is to bring the Netherlands and China closer together," Knapen added. "We want people from both countries to better understand each other through dialogue and exchange."
(Contributed by Shao Haijun, edited by Yang Linlin with Xinhua Silk Road, linlinyanglyn@163.com)
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